Mothers weep and fathers beat their chests as the weight of coffins continue to get heavier – this is the state Bihar's Muzaffarpur is in, as the region grapples with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
On Thursday, 20 June, the death toll due to the disease touched 121 with many suspecting the toll will rise further.
In the last 20 days, at least 100 children lost their lives in Muzaffarpur’s Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) where families have claimed that the hospital lacked operating beds and basic hygiene.
Although both the state and Central government have assured “immediate assistance” to the hospital, The Quint travelled to SKMCH to see the ground reality.
More Than Three Kids On One Bed
Bihar minister Suresh Sharma had earlier said that the hospitals do not lack medicines, however, there is a lack of beds and ICUs.
Families have repeatedly questioned government's negligence over acute shortage of beds, especially after a 2014 outbreak in the same Muzaffarpur that claimed lives of roughly 350 people.
Poor Hygiene & Malnutrition
According to experts, malnutrition, unhygienic conditions, humidity and heat, and weak immunity are some reasons that led to the AES outbreak in Bihar.
Nitish-led government faces a huge challenge tackling this problem in Muzaffarpur.
The wards of the hospital are only cleaned once or twice a day and right outside there are heaps of garbage that hasn’t been cleaned since months.
Most Kids Suffering With AES Are Under 10 Years Old
Huge Shortage of Nurses and Doctors
Doctors have told media outlets that patients greatly outnumber doctors in Muzaffarpur. For instance, there is only one senior resident doctor, alongside three junior residents, who are attempting to treat over a hundred people.
“One doctor is treating 25 to 30 patients, and the number of nurses is also very low,” doctors told The Citizen.
Weeping Mothers & Broken Families
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